I got this from an acquaintance of mine. Really good stuff since I've run into plenty of folks myself that have lofty goals but, dont' do the things (big & small) to make it happen...and then just whine about it after the fact...
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How many of us think, "I want more" or "I want a better life." Most likely, that thought has occurred to nearly everyone at some point. However, how many of us then take planned action to really make it happen? Unfortunately, not many.
No matter how lofty your goals are or how impossible they seem to others, planning is the only way to prepare and succeed. If you want to be one of those people that get what they want out of life, here are some guidelines you better be prepared to follow!
1. Decide What You Want. Some people get down thinking "I never get what I want," but if you ask them what they want they can't really articulate it. That's usually because they haven't put a lot of thought into it. Don't worry, it happens to a lot of us. We're just busy living life: going to work, going to school, buying the groceries, paying the bills, taking the dog to the vet, blah, blah, blah.
Get off that treadmill for one afternoon. Set aside 1-2 hours just for you! During that time, think about what you really want. Write down everything and then boil it down to your top 10, top 5, top 3, and number one thing that you want.
2. Reality Check. Goals should be realistic, but they need not be easy. So a goal to date Jessica Alba or Matthew McConaughey might not be realistic, but a goal to date a man/ woman who has all the attributes and values you like would be more attainable. Maybe you long to go back in time or bring back a loved one who you've lost. That's not realistic, but instead you could set upon a goal to live a life or find a person who embodies similar elements to what you had before. If your goal is to make $1 million dollars, break it down into shorter term goals that are doable. When you hit those short term milestones it will give you encouragement to continue on your journey. Lastly, remember that goals don't have to be about getting things or people, they can also be about how you want to live your life on a daily basis.
3. Focus. Work on only your top 1-3 goals at any given time. When those are completed, move onto the next goals on your list. If you try to bite off more than you can chew, you won't reach any of your goals. Go slow to go fast.
4. Write It Down. Each morning, write out the goals that you are working on. This may seem silly after a while, but it takes very little time and it is very powerful. Also, each morning, write out the actions you will take that day toward your goals. It doesn't have to be a lot. A little bit every day will get you there.
5. Big Stuff First. Each day, complete the action steps that bring you closer to your goal before you work on the little mundane things of life. Checking email, laundry, bills, chores, errands, all that stuff will wait until later in the day. If necessary, go to bed an hour earlier and get up an hour earlier to free up some time for working on your goals. Eliminating some, most or all TV watching is an easy way to find more time. Eliminate activities that are not important to make time for what you really want.
6. Aim for Progress not Perfection. Don't wait until you're "good" at playing guitar before you play for people. Playing for people will force you to improve faster than if you just practice in the safety of your bedroom. Don't wait until you have all the money needed before you start taking steps towards starting a business. If you start taking action, when money is needed you'll be more likely to either figure out a way to do it with no or less money or figure out a way to find the money. So just start doing! Planning is good, but action is the only way to make things happen.
7. Learn. Take every opportunity to learn more about what it is you're trying to accomplish. Read, attend classes, and join groups where you can meet others who have done what you want to do. And everything you learn, translate it into concrete things you can DO towards reaching your goal.
8. Take Action Every Day. Every day, no matter how small, do something that brings you closer to reaching your goal.
9. Keep It Simple. It's very easy to get distracted by fancy things thinking they will help us reach our goal. Do you really need a new gadget to track your progress or will simple pen and paper do the trick? Do you need to buy an e-course that teaches you how to workout, or do you just need to get your butt out running each day? Any time you find yourself thinking, "Oh, that could help me reach my goal," ask yourself "Is it really necessary for reaching my goal?" If not, move on. If you're not sure, move on. You can come back to it later.
10. Feed Your Belief. Every day spend some time at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day visualizing yourself living, attaining, and achieving your goals. Close your eyes for 10 minutes or so and run a little mental movie in your head. See the things you want happening right now. Turn up the volume in terms of color, sight, sound, and emotion for more impactful results. This activity will "program" your subconscious to believe. Once your subconscious believes then it starts automatically prompting you to take actions that will help you reach your goal. "Automatic" is good because it lessens the need for will-power.
11. Track Your Progress. In a journal, your calendar, a chart, or a simple notebook keep track of your daily progress. Write down what you did that day along with any milestones reached that day. This will provide motivation to stick with it day in and day out. Fail-proof it by making it something you can't forget or avoid doing.
12. The Power Factor. One of the most powerful things you can do to achieve your goals is to enlist another person's help. So find a mentor, coach, teacher, or simply a goal buddy. Having someone that you "report" to, that supports you, guides you and pushes you will make your success all the more certain.
Wishing you great success in reaching your goals. Remember, if you set your mind to something and take action, You Can Do It!
Got this from a friends blog and it's TOO hilarious!
THIS APPEARED ON CRAIG'S LIST
What am I doing wrong?
Okay, I'm tired of beating around the bush. I'm a beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy. I'm not from New York. I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don't think I'm overreaching at all.
Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 200 - 250. But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won't get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she's not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?
Here are my questions specifically:
- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars, restaurants, gyms
-What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won't hurt my feelings
-Is there an age range I should be targeting (I'm 25)?
- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east side so plain? I've seen really 'plain jane' boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I've seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What's the story there?
- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?
- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY
Please hold your insults - I'm putting myself out there in an honest way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I'm being up front about it. I wouldn't be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn't able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a nice home and hearth.
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 432279810
THE ANSWER Dear Pers-431649184:
I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament. Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I see it.
Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a crappy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity...in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't be getting any more beautiful!
So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!
So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold...hence the rub...marriage. It doesn't make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease. In case you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It's as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.
Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful" as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.
By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.
With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way. Classic "pump and dump." I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.
ok...so, if you know me, you know i have a DEEP dislike for pretentiousness...most often exemplified by people who think WHAT they have and what they DRIVE make them WHO they are....
For those of you reading, I'm sure you've run into a few people like this. Well, I want to cite a story that a buddy of mine experienced while down in LA. After reading the story, I'm amazed that there are people that still actually think the way this specimen does...I mean...give me an EFFEN break...
And here's how it goes:
Alright, now that I've said hello to the people I want to say hello to, let me unload about this one Shine promoter I met in the parking lot of White Lotus. As I'm hanging out with ****, in the freezing cold, waiting for the valet to pull up with my rental (a swank Toyota Prius) this one dude comes up to **** and starts making friendly with her. I overhear him being overly concerned about her ability to keep warm and ask about her ride situation for the night. (Sounds like a good guy and not some pick-up line, right?
Seeing as I'm ****'s ride, I turn around to say hello. **** introduces me as a friend and her ride, and then introduces him as a promoter from Shine. Apparently Dude can't hear all that well, and mistakens ****'s introduction of him as the promoter, for me being a Shine promoter... to which he responds by looking me up and down distastefully and says something to the effect of "I'M A SHINE PROMOTER, and this GUY definitely isn't apart of MY group."
Calm down buddy.
Anyhow, this Dude then turns around and asks **** if he could take her home and that he doesn't trust guys.... all while I'm standing 4 feet away in clear ear-shot of what he's saying. (If you ask me - sounds like the exact type of guy girls should be mistrustful of.)
*** laughs off his advances and states that she's fine... and we walk away to wait for the valet in a different location. Dude apparently doesn't get the hint (by the way, the girl he was with was standing a few feet away) and pursues, this time casually dropped the fact that he'll drive her home in his BMW 645, TWICE! lol
Okay there buddy... Are all guys in LA that vain? Do girls actually fall for this sorta stuff?
Seeing that his efforts aren't paying off in the way he had hoped for, this Shine Promoter retreats for a few minutes until his car pulls up (I'll admit it was a nice ride) after which he makes yet another attempt to warm up to ***. He walks over to where we're standing and insists for the gazillionth time that guys are mistrustful and that his BMW 645 is right over there (actually pointing it out) and that he'd be happy to drive her home.
Can I get a collective eye-roll please?
Anyhow, we say we're good to go for the 20th time that night, and eventually get into my rental with the last thing we hear before zooming off (to the hum of the electric motor) is his calling out - you sure I can't give you a ride in my BMW 645.
lol. Pathetic.
I mean....seriously....after reading the above story...I have to wonder...does this Shine dood REALLY think the constant mention of a BMW would have any affect? and...does he really buy into his own bullshit?? Most likely, mommy and daddy bought the friggin car for him AND pays for gas and maintenence....AND he prolly still stays at home....
Then again, there's a train of thought that guys are the way they are due to women gobbling ish like this up...but I refuse to believe that at this day and age, where there are a multitude of independent and successful women as prime role models, a woman is dumb enough to fall for a line tlike that....
gimme a friggin break yo....YEESH!
*edit* One other thing....wth is up with the Shine-y Asswipe not taking ****'s word that she was perfectly ok with my buddy? I mean..which does the guy not understand? the N? or the O?
